Tom Hengen
Encyclopedia
Tom Hengen is a politician, psychologist and community worker in Saskatchewan
, Canada
. He campaigned for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
in 1996, and sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1997 election
as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada
. Hengen later joined the Saskatchewan Party
.
, Saskatchewan and raised in Regina
and Humboldt
. He holds a Master of Arts
degree in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, and a PhD
in education from the University of Regina
. Raised in a Liberal family, he purchased his first membership in the party in 1957.
He has worked as a teacher, superintendent, career consultant and psychologist. At the time of the 1997 election, he was executive director of CANTRAIN Human Resources and a partner in Ab-Tech Professional Services. He has written several works on education, and is involved in a variety of aboriginal outreach programs.
to design the party's platform in 1993. Haverstock was forced to resign as leader in 1995, after a bitter caucus revolt. Hengen was considered a Haverstock ally at the time of the controversy, though sources indicate there was a subsequent falling-out.
Hengen campaigned to succeed Haverstock as party leader in 1996, promising to "take back Saskatchewan" from a period of economic decline. He was strongly identified with the right-wing of the Liberal Party, arguing in favour of a "free-enterprise government with a social conscience". His campaign highlighted various strategies for wealth creation, including an expansion of high-tech agricultural services and increased production of low-cost uranium
energy. He also focused on aboriginal issues, promoting First Nations mentoring programs and a marketing strategy for First Nations' businesses. Hengen's supporters included Arlene Jule
, a prominent Haverstock loyalist.
Hengen described his campaign as "policy-based" and "populist", and accused rival Jim Melenchuk
of being the preferred choice of the party elite. He led on the first ballot of the leadership convention, but fell behind Melenchuk on the second and was defeated on the third.
He later campaigned for the federal Liberal party in Wanuskewin during the 1997 election. Again affiliated with the right-wing of the party, he supported the austerity measures of Finance Minister
Paul Martin
and promised to vote against the Canadian gun registry
. He received 8,020 votes (24.43%), finishing third against Reform Party
candidate Maurice Vellacott
.
to create the Saskatchewan Party
as a right-wing alternative to the provincial New Democratic Party. Hengen joined the new party, and was appointed to chair its steering committee. His wife, Shelley Hengen, has campaigned for the Saskatchewan Party on two occasions.
He campaigned for a seat on Saskatoon public school board in 2003, and was listed at the time as the co-manager of a family wellness clinic and owner of a private vocational school. He finished second against rival candidate Lindsay Fast.
Hengen briefly returned to public prominence during the 2006 federal election
. During a live television debate, a telephone caller falsely accused Conservative
incumbent Maurice Vellacott of being forced to leave a church after being accused of sexual assault. Hengen later produced a sworn affidavit
in which he identified the caller as a campaign worker for another party.
Hengen was listed as 55 years old in 1996.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He campaigned for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
in 1996, and sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1997 election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. Hengen later joined the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
.
Early life and career
Hengen was born in BroadviewBroadview, Saskatchewan
Broadview is a community in Saskatchewan along the #1 highway, the Trans Canada Highway, east of the provincial capital city of Regina. The local economy is based mainly on agriculture.-History:...
, Saskatchewan and raised in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
and Humboldt
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Humboldt is a Canadian city located in the province of Saskatchewan, 113 km east of Saskatoon at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 20. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Humboldt No...
. He holds a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in education from the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
. Raised in a Liberal family, he purchased his first membership in the party in 1957.
He has worked as a teacher, superintendent, career consultant and psychologist. At the time of the 1997 election, he was executive director of CANTRAIN Human Resources and a partner in Ab-Tech Professional Services. He has written several works on education, and is involved in a variety of aboriginal outreach programs.
Liberal Party
Hengen was policy chair for the provincial Liberals in the mid-1990s, and worked with Lynda HaverstockLynda Haverstock
- External links :***...
to design the party's platform in 1993. Haverstock was forced to resign as leader in 1995, after a bitter caucus revolt. Hengen was considered a Haverstock ally at the time of the controversy, though sources indicate there was a subsequent falling-out.
Hengen campaigned to succeed Haverstock as party leader in 1996, promising to "take back Saskatchewan" from a period of economic decline. He was strongly identified with the right-wing of the Liberal Party, arguing in favour of a "free-enterprise government with a social conscience". His campaign highlighted various strategies for wealth creation, including an expansion of high-tech agricultural services and increased production of low-cost uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
energy. He also focused on aboriginal issues, promoting First Nations mentoring programs and a marketing strategy for First Nations' businesses. Hengen's supporters included Arlene Jule
Arlene Julé
Arlene Julé is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Humboldt in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1995 to 2003. First elected as a member of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, she joined the new Saskatchewan Party caucus in 1997.-References:...
, a prominent Haverstock loyalist.
Hengen described his campaign as "policy-based" and "populist", and accused rival Jim Melenchuk
Jim Melenchuk
Jim Melenchuk is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Saskatoon Northwest in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1999 to 2003....
of being the preferred choice of the party elite. He led on the first ballot of the leadership convention, but fell behind Melenchuk on the second and was defeated on the third.
He later campaigned for the federal Liberal party in Wanuskewin during the 1997 election. Again affiliated with the right-wing of the party, he supported the austerity measures of Finance Minister
Minister of Finance (Canada)
The Minister of Finance is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible each year for presenting the federal government's budget...
Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
and promised to vote against the Canadian gun registry
Canadian gun registry
The Canadian Firearms Registry is part of the Firearms Act and is managed by the Canadian Firearms Program of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . It requires the registration of all guns in Canada. It was introduced by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and implemented by...
. He received 8,020 votes (24.43%), finishing third against Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
candidate Maurice Vellacott
Maurice Vellacott
Maurice Vellacott is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997, and is currently the Conservative Member of Parliament for the riding of Saskatoon—Wanuskewin in the province of Saskatchewan....
.
Saskatchewan Party
Shortly after the 1997 federal election, several members of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party joined with members of the Progressive Conservative PartyProgressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is a right-of-centre political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Prior to 1942, it was known as the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan. Members are commonly known as Tories....
to create the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
as a right-wing alternative to the provincial New Democratic Party. Hengen joined the new party, and was appointed to chair its steering committee. His wife, Shelley Hengen, has campaigned for the Saskatchewan Party on two occasions.
Since 1997
Hengen has remained active with the aboriginal community in Saskatoon, and has participated in debates about aboriginal policies. He has argued that state planning and management have prevented First Nations communities from becoming economically self-sufficient, and has accused Indian and Northern Affairs Canada of ignoring First Nations concerns in education policy. Hengen has worked as a mental health therapist at Building A Nation, a community project which provides assistance to aboriginals who were abused at residential schools (30 November 2002).He campaigned for a seat on Saskatoon public school board in 2003, and was listed at the time as the co-manager of a family wellness clinic and owner of a private vocational school. He finished second against rival candidate Lindsay Fast.
Hengen briefly returned to public prominence during the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
. During a live television debate, a telephone caller falsely accused Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
incumbent Maurice Vellacott of being forced to leave a church after being accused of sexual assault. Hengen later produced a sworn affidavit
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
in which he identified the caller as a campaign worker for another party.
Hengen was listed as 55 years old in 1996.